Social Security Disability/Individual Unemployability

Social Security Disability/Individual Unemployability

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Posts: 56

May 23 10 9:56 AM

I'm not familiar with the issues concerning How Soc. Sec. Disability affects an IU claim. Receive 70% service connected at present. Was receiving Soc.Sec Disability 5 years prior to my grant of V.A. Comp. for my service connected condition. Applied for I.U. in 2008 and was denied because V.A. claimed to be "unable to locate soc.sec. records". To the best of my knowledge those records were a part of my c-file. Filed a Notice of disagreement just recently (3 months ago)/DRO review. Would someone please explain to me why the V.A. completely ignored the very information (Soc.Sec. records) that would have substantiated my claim? Also, how long does it take for a DRO review to be completed? Any help with this would be appreciated.

I was awarded SSDI for my PTSD on my first attempt, and wanted to forward that fact to the VA when I filed for IU. The problem was that the SSDI award letter stated that I was awarded disability, but didn't specifically state the disability anywhere on the award letter- the way a VA award letter would. Therefore, I visited my local SSA office, where the indiviual at the desk told me that he couldn't tell me exacly what I'd been diagnosed with, because the SSA uses codes in their system to designate specific disabilities and he wasn't able to tell what the code meant (I think he was a new/unexperienced employee). After a few days of confusion and frustation, I called the SSA's 1800# and asked how I could get a letter from them that specifically stated my disability so that I could forward it to the VA and prove that it was the same service-connected disability that the VA knew I had. This time, I was able to get the kindest employee in the world, who gladly took the time to tell me what the codes stood for (PTSD, anxiety, schizophrenia) and was even willing to have that information put on an SSA letter for me and faxed to me right then and there. After receiving that fax, I gave it to my DAV rep which he forwarded to the VARO as additional evidence for my IU claim. About a month and a half later I found out from the DAV that I had been awarded IU but not P&T, and I was thrilled! When I got the IU award letter a week later, it listed the evidence from SSA and my SSDI award for the same service-connected condition, as factors used in their decision. I'm up for an exam again in 2011, since I'm not P&T. I hope this helps somehow.

Thanks Sgt,Basically followed your lead. Same results from worker at the Soc. Sec. office. Did receive letter stating my disabilities. Forwarded the information to my P.O.A. who stated that "V.A. already knows that you receive Soc. Sec. but the letter will be kept on file for future reference". Apparently they know something more about what's going on with my claim than mets the eye (insight concerning that statement would be appreciated as well). In any event; Thanks for your input on my behalf; Chicago Bob 25726,Vetforus,mr G777 and Kadampa as well. Thanks again guy's....

Despite what the VA said about already knowing you receive SS, I still think it can be nothing but beneficial to your claim to now have documented proof that what you receive SSDI for is the same thing that you are VA service-connected for. That was a pretty fast turn around...what did you do, call SS and do what I posted the very next day?? That's good, it means you're on the ball with your claims and making sure everything on your end is done to the fullest! I hope everything works out for you with your VA claim!!

Thanks Sgt,I just went to the local office as you did but the worker at the window assisted me immediately. Was given a letter which contained the codes and what they meant right there on the spot. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens. Not too familiar with maneuvering around this site but I appreciate all the help you guy's rendered to me.

PTSDude wrote:Could someone send me a link to all the acronyms on the postings, such as P&T, thanks. Newbie here. Lookin to file a PTSD claim, and don't have a clue.

Welcome to VBN PTSDude. Some of the acronyms and abbreviations mentioned in this post include:

P&T- Permanent and Total (disability that is totally disabling and not likely to improve during the Veteran's life)IU-Individual Unemployability TDIU-Temporary Disability due to Individual UnemployabilitySSA or SS- Social Security AdministrationSSDI- Social Security Disability InsurancePOA- Power of AttorneyDAV-Disabled American Veterans (a Veterans Service Organization or VSO)VARO-VA Regional OfficeVA- Veteran's AdministrationsVA Comp.-VA Compensation (for service-connected disabilities)DRO Review-Decision Review Officer Review (of a VA disability claim decision)C-file: your VA Claims folderSC: Service-Connected (disability due to military service)NOD: Notice of Disagreement (with a VA decision on a compensation claim)PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

You may want to Google these terms or navigate your way around this site and take a look at some of the topics on the main page to gain some knowledge and insight on the lingo used here. Hope this helps somehow.

My husband made claim for SC DBT2 in 2006 , along with CAD or IHD ,,he also had heart attack in 2005. He was approved 30% for DBT2 He also applied for SSD and was approved also.When he applied for the DBT2 ,heart conditions was in the records we sent in also,, but was not approved for SC heart conditions because heart attack and IHD was before he found out he had DBT2. He made claim in Jan.2010 for IHD,,after it was put on SC presumtive diseases. We didn't think about sending a copy of SSD approval along with this claim nor the claims back in 2006 . Do you , or anyone think that we should have sent a copy or not?? Is it TOO late to send it in now ?? Where do we send it to?? Thank You for any information..

We will go to the SSA office tomorrow to see if we can get this. My husband is on SSD for his service connected PTSD, but his award letter that is in his Cfile does not reflect what the disability is. Well thats the only claim ever submitted to either VA or SSD. Anyway if we can get it we will send it to the VSO to add to the cfile. And of course our files. We are in the NOD process on the rating waiting on a DRO review.

Reality is determined not by what scientists or anyone else says or believes but by what the evidence reveals to us.
-- Alan Hale

Ok we got the letter but it has anxiety related disorders as primary and mood disorders as secondary. I looked for codes on line and found a list and I did not see one specific for PTSD. So is this what we need? All the medical evidence turned in for his SSD was due to PTSD and depression. Which he was awarded no questions asked. Now maybe the site I went to was wrong cause I could not find it but under the appendix of a web page.

My husband made claim for SC DBT2 in 2006 , along with CAD or IHD ,,he also had heart attack in 2005. He was approved 30% for DBT2 He also applied for SSD and was approved also.When he applied for the DBT2 ,heart conditions was in the records we sent in also,, but was not approved for SC heart conditions because heart attack and IHD was before he found out he had DBT2. He made claim in Jan.2010 for IHD,,after it was put on SC presumtive diseases. We didn't think about sending a copy of SSD approval along with this claim nor the claims back in 2006 . Do you , or anyone think that we should have sent a copy or not?? Is it TOO late to send it in now ?? Where do we send it to?? Thank You for any information..

if you have a letter from the SSA that states what conditions he was granted under and they are SC conditions from military by all means send it in to your RO so they can use it on their decision for IU or to support your other claims.

My husband made claim for SC DBT2 in 2006 , along with CAD or IHD ,,he also had heart attack in 2005. He was approved 30% for DBT2 He also applied for SSD and was approved also.When he applied for the DBT2 ,heart conditions was in the records we sent in also,, but was not approved for SC heart conditions because heart attack and IHD was before he found out he had DBT2. He made claim in Jan.2010 for IHD,,after it was put on SC presumtive diseases. We didn't think about sending a copy of SSD approval along with this claim nor the claims back in 2006 . Do you , or anyone think that we should have sent a copy or not?? Is it TOO late to send it in now ?? Where do we send it to?? Thank You for any information..

if you have a letter from the SSA that states what conditions he was granted under and they are SC conditions from military by all means send it in to your RO so they can use it on their decision for IU or to support your other claims.

If not go to the SSA office and they will give it to you. We did that today. My husbands award letter did not state why he was disabled only that he was.

Reality is determined not by what scientists or anyone else says or believes but by what the evidence reveals to us.
-- Alan Hale